Generation of self-macrophage-toxic non-T cells in the MHC-homozygous F1 spleen cells co-cultured with parental cells: possible involvements of host cells in impaired immunity in GVH disease.

Simplified-in vitro system was developed to examine the contribution of host's cells in graft-versus-host (GVH)-disease-associated immunodeficiencies. In analogy with major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched GVH-reaction, (BALB/c x DBA/2)F1 (H-2d) hybrid spleen cells were co-cultured with irradiated BALB/c (H-2d) spleen cells, so that cellular activities to be generated are ascribable to F1 cells. In vitro development of anti-allo-specific cytotoxic T cells of the F1 origin was dramatically suppressed by coexistence of the irradiated parental cells and by the addition of F1 cells precultured once with the parental cells, suggesting the generation of suppressor cells in the F1 (host) cells activated by the parental cells. Thus generated suppressor cells are Thy.1-, weakly or nonadherent and radiosensitive. Interestingly, in the same reactions there also developed Thy.1- cytotoxic cells for autologous macrophage targets. An involvement in immunodeficiencies in GVH disease of the host-derived cytotoxic and/or immunosuppressive, non-T cells was discussed.